Water closet flushing apparatus



Dec. 9, 1958 H. J. H. GERRITSEN 2,863,153

WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed June a, 1954 J/ i 4 57% f 55 United States Patent WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS Hendrilkus J. H. Gerritsen, Venlo, Netherlands Application June 8, 1954, Serial No. 435,266

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-39) This invention relates to a water closet flushing apparatus comprising a tank provided with a water supply and a water outlet, the water supply being automatically closed when the tank is full and the water outlet being provided with a closing means actuated from the outside and aims to provide an apparatus of this type of simple construction, easy operation and reliable functioning, from which any required amount of water may be taken and which may be given an aesthetical appearance.

This is attained by the water closet flushing apparatus according to this invention in that in the tank a partition or partition portion is provided in which a deformable diaphragm is fitted co-operating with a rod controlling the closing means of the water supply, this diagram being disposed at such a height above the tank bottom as to permit the co-operating rod to close the closing means for the water supply automatically when the tank is filled with water on one side of the said partition. The water flows in almost noiselessly as it can enter at the bottom of the tank and rises from the bottom when the tank is being filled.

A preferred embodiment of the water closet flushing apparatus is characterized in that the partition ends at a distance below the upper edge of the tank and the chamber at the other side of the said partition is in direct communication with the water outlet. This arrangement prevents the tank from overflowing because, if for some reason the closing means would not be fully closed and for instance would leak, the surplus water flows over the said partition to the outlet.

According to the invention the water outlet may be provided with a hand-operated valve, the water flowing out of the tank as long as this valve is kept open. Due to the fact that the valve is directly connected to the hand lever, the possibility of a failure of the valve, when operated, is excluded. Moreover, the application of such a valve presents the advantage that the entire tank may be filled with flushing water.

In the above-described embodiments of the water flushing apparatus only the tank chamber on one side of the partition is filled with flushing water, the chamber on the other side of this partition remaining empty in order to enable the water to deform the diaphragm when this water has reached the required level in the first-mentioned chamber. The apparatus according to the invention may also be made so that the chambers on both sides of the partition may be alternately filled with flushing water. In this way one chamber is already filled when the other chamber is still being emptied. This is attained by the flushing apparatus according to the invention in that the partition provided with the diaphragm subdivides the tank into two equal chambers each having at the bottom a discharge port provided with a closing means, these ports placing, when one closing means is open, the said chambers in communication with a discharge chamber connected to the discharge pipe, the said closing means being coupled with each other so that one closing means ICC? closes its port when the other closing means clears its port, the water supply chamber controlled by the diaphragm communicating with a second water supply chamber separated from the discharge chamber, the latter water supply chamber having two ports each provided with a closing means of which one is opened and the other is closed, in such a manner that water may be exclusively supplied to the tank being filled.

The invention will be illustrated below with reference to the drawings showing by way of a non-limiting example two embodiments of the water closet flushing apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the first embodiment.

Figure 2 is a section along the line II-II viewed in the direction of the arrows as shown in said figure.

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the second embodiment.

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.

The water closet flushing apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a tank 1 to the bottom side of which a bottom portion 2 is secured having a discharge pipe trunk 3 to which the water outlet pipe (not shown) leading to the closet is connected. The discharge pipe trunk 3 is provided with a seat for a valve 4 which is operated by means of a lever 5 pivotally mounted in the wall of the tank 1 against the action of a spring, such as the coil spring 5a connected between the lever and the bottom portion 2 of the tank. As long as the valve 4 is kept open by means of the lever 5 the water in the tank 4 flows through the discharge pipe trunk 3. As soon as the lever 5 is released the valve 4 closes due to the action of the spring. In this way one may regulate the amount of discharged water according to requirements.

In the tank 1 a partition 6 is provided which subdivides the tank into chambers or compartments 7, 8. The chamber 7 serves to receive the flushing water whilst the chamber 8 is empty. An opening 9 is provided in the partition 6, this opening being closed by a deformable diaphragm ill or like member. This diaphragm 10 is connected to a rod 11 pivotally secured in any suitable manner at its lower end at the bottom portion 2, this rod 11 having near its lower end a closing valve 12 for the water supply pipe 13 which may be connected to the water main.

The chamber 8, which normally does not contain water, is connected by a channel 14 to the pipe trunk 3, the rod 11 being pivoted to the upper surface of the channel, as at 11a. The drawing shows that the partition 6 is lower than the upper edge of the tank 1. Consequently, when for some reason water flows over this partition 6 into the chamber 8 this water flows through the channel 14 into the pipe trunk 3 thus excluding the possibility of an overflowing 0f the tank 1.

The above-described apparatus operates as follows:

When the chamber or compartment 7 is empty, the valve 4 closes the water outlet 3 and the diaphragm 10 has its shape as shown in full lines in Figure 1. Consequently the upper end of the rod 11 is rotated to the left in Figure 1 so that the valve 12 is removed from its seat and water may flow into the chamber '7 in order to fill this chamber.

When this chamber 7 is being filled the water rises from the bottom so that finally it rises beyond the diaphragm 10. When the water level in the chamber 7 has reached the required level a pressure is exercised on the diaphragm so that it assumes the form shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Consequently the: rod ill with the valve 12 is rotated to the right in Figure 1 so that the valve 12 is pressed on its seat and closes the water supply.

It is to be observed that the water supply pipe 13, the

valve 4 with its valve seat and the hand lever 5 may be arranged in the bottom portion 2 thus permitting a simple manufacture.

in the embodiment shown in the Figures 3 and 4 the tank is subdivided by a vertical partition '16 intotwo equal vertical chambers or compartments '17, 18 which are alternately filled with water so that, when-one'space is emptied the other space is already filled again with water for the next flushing operation.

The tank 15 has a reduced rectangular bottom portion 51) which, as shown in Fig. 4, includes end walls 51 and 52 and side walls 53 and 54. A water discharge chamber or compartment 23 is formed in the bottom portion by the bottom wall 55 of such portion and by upwardly extending, inwardly inclined walls 56 and 57 which are joined by a top wall 58 and connected by the side wall 53 and at the other side by wall 59 which isdisposed parallel to and spaced inwardly from the side wall'54. The Walls 56 and 57 are inclined upwardly and inwardly from the lower ends of the end walls and are connected below their upper ends by a horizontal partition 60 which is disposed below and parallel with the topwall 58 and defines a chamber 30 therewith. The side Wall 54 and the Wall 59 define a vertical chamber 29 which lies alongside the water discharge chamber 23 and, due to the termination of the wall 59 at the partition 68, is in constant communication with the chamber 30. The chamber 29 is subdivided by the Walls 56 and 57. A water supply pipe 31 is connected to an opening in the side wall 53 to communicate with the water inlet chamber 30. The partition 16 extends through the top wall 58 to the partition 60 and has a port formed in its lower end. The port is provided with a double valve seat to seat tandem valves 32 and 33 which are arranged on opposite sides of the partition 16. The valves are mounted on a rod 34 which is connected to a verticle rod 35, the lower end of which is suitably pivoted, as at 35a, so that it may swing to move the rod 34 rectilinearly and alternately seat and unseat the valves 32 and 33. The upper end of the rod 35 is connected to a deformable diaphragm 36 which encloses an opening 37 in the partition 16. V

A port 21 and a similar 'port 22 are formed in the inclined walls 56 and 57 to communicate the chambers 17 and 18 with the water discharge chamber 23. Valves 19 and close off the ports from the chambers 17 and 18 to the chamber 23, which is provided with a discharge pipe trunk 24. The valves 19 and 20 are con nected for simultaneous, alternate movement so that when one valve is open, the other valve is closed and vice versa.

Closing members 39 and 41 are provided and are adapted to close off ports 38 and 40 in the Walls 56 and 57 is such a manner that when the port 38 is open, the port 40 is closed. in the walls 56 and 57 to communicate the chambers 17 and 18 with the water inlet chamber 30, with the valves 32 and 33 and the closing members 39 and 41-co-operating to'control the alternate communication of the chambers'17 and 18 with the water inlet chamber 30.

As shown in Fig. 4, the closing members 39 and 41 are interconnected by rods and 26 which are joined to an operating lever 28 that is pivotally mounted at 27 and projects outside the tank 15. The closing members are each in turn connected by rods 25:: and 26a (see Fig. 4) to the valves 19 and 20 so that the closing member 39 and valve 19 act together in opposite movement to the closing member 41 and the valve 20.

The above-described apparatus operates as follows:

When the apparatus is in the position as shown in Figure 3, chamber 17 is filled with water and chamber 18 is empty. The water previously contained therein has been used for a flushing operation.

When the lever 28 is moved to the left in Figure '3, the valve 19 is opened so that the water in the chamber In this respect, the ports are formed 17 flows through the port in the wall 57 to the outlet chamber 23. At the same time, the movement of the rods 25 and 26, which opened the valve 19, seats the closing member 41 and the valve 20 and opens the closing member 39.

As soon as the Water in the chamber 17 reaches a level lower than the diaphragm 36, the diaphragm is no longer deformed and assumes an intermediate position so that, through the rods 35 and 34, the port in the partition 16, which was closed off by the valve 33, is opened. The water can then flow from the water supply pipe and chamber 30 through the port 38 into the chamber 18. At such time, the closing member 41, which is seated in the port 40, prevents the water from entering the chamber 17. The water fills the chamber 18 up to the required level where the Water acts on the diaphragm to press the diaphragm into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the chamber 17, at such time, having been emptied, at least to a level below the diaphragm. When the diaphragm is moved to the dotted line position, the rods 35 and 34 are moved to move the valve 32 to a closed position, so that the Water supply to the chamber 18 is cut 011. The chamber 17, being empty, can then serve as an overfiow chamber if, for some reason, the water in the chamber 18 reaches a level above the partition 16.

When the lever 28 is turned back to the position of Figure 3, the valve 20 is unseated and water flows from the chamber 18 to the Water outlet chamber 23 and through the discharge pipe trunk 24. Simultaneously, the closing member 41 is unseated, the closing member 39 is seated and the valve 19 is seated. As soon as the water in the chamber 18 reaches a level below the diaphragm 36, the diaphragm again assumes an intermediate position and shifts the rods 35 and 34 to unseat the valve '32. Water can then flow from the inlet chamber 30 through the port 40 to fill the chamber 17, in the same way as described in the'foregoing in connection with the chamber 18.

I claim:

1. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a tank provided with a hand-operated water discharge valve for opening and closing a water discharge pipe, said tank having a water inlet opening, a water inlet valve in said tank cooperable with said water inlet opening to open and close the same and means to operate said water inlet valve including a deformable diaphragm means being disposed in the tank and arranged substantially at the height of the highest water level in said tank, one side of said diaphragm means being engaged and actuated by the water when it reaches the highest level, the other side being in constant communication with the atmosphere, rod means connected between the diaphragm means and the water inlet valve to operate said inlet valve in response to-movcments of the diaphragm means'so that said inlet valve is closed when the tank is filled up with water to the desired level and opened when the water is below said level, said deformable diaphragm means being pressed inwards by the water in the tank when the water reaches the desired level and the water inlet valve being opened by the pressure of the inlet water when the water level in the tank is below said desired level.

2. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a tank provided with a hand-operated water discharge valve for opening and closing a water discharge pipe, said tank having a water inlet opening, a water inlet valve in said tank co-operable with said Water inlet opening to open and close the same and means to operate said water inlet valve including a deformable diaphragm means disposed in the tank and being arranged substantially at the height of the highest water level in said tank, one side of said diaphragm means being engaged by the water when it reaches the highest level to actuate the diaphragm means and the other 'side being in communication with the atmosphere, a rod connected to one side of said diaphragm and co-operating in such a way with the water inlet valve that said valve is closed when the tank is filled up with water to the desired level and opened when the water is below said level, said deformable diaphragm means being pressed inwards by the water in the tank when the water reaches the desired level and the water inlet valve being opened by the pressure of the inlet water when the water level in the tank is below said desired level, said deformable diaphragm being arranged in a partition in said tank and said partition terminating at a distance below the upper edge of the tank, the space at the other side of said partition being in direct communication with the water discharge pipe.

3. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a tank, a partition wall subdividing said tank into two chambers, each of said chambers having a hand-operated water discharge valve co-operating with a water discharge port, said discharge ports, when their co-operating water discharge valve is open, communicating with a water discharge compartment provided with a water discharge conduit, said water discharge valves being coupled with each other so that one of said valves closes its port while the other valve opens its port, a water supply compartment being arranged under said tank and having outlet ports in communication with the chambers, a water inlet valve controlling each of said outlet ports, said water inlet valves being coupled with each other and with the water discharge valves so that when one of the water inlet valves of the water supply compartment is open and supplies water to one chamber of the tank, the water discharge valve of said chamber of the tank is closed while the other water inlet valve is closed and the other water discharge valve is open and vice versa, the water supply compartment being provided with a water inlet opening, a partition subdividing said water supply compartment and having an opening communicating the water inlet opening with the water outlet ports, two valves connected with each other and disposed on opposite sides of the partition and cooperating with said opening, said valves being operable by a rod system, the upper end of said rod system being connected with a deformable diaphragm being arranged in the partition wall of the tank substantially at the height of the highest water level in said tank, said rod system co-operating in such a way with the valves cooperating with the partition in the water supply compartment that one of said valves is closed when the other is open and vice versa.

4. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a vertically arranged tank provided at its lower end with a water discharge outlet, a water discharge valve controlling said outlet, a partition vertically disposed in the tank and terminating below the upper end thereof and dividing the tank into two chambers, water inlet means in the tank communicating directly with one of the chambers, said partition being formed below its upper end with a transverse opening, a deformable diaphragm closing off the opening and being actuated on one side by the water rising to its highest level in the one chamber when the water discharge valve is closed and having its other side in communication with the atmosphere, 8. water inlet valve for said Water inlet means and operating means for said water inlet valve actuated by the diaphragm so that said water inlet valve is closed when the one chamber is filled with water to the desired level above the diaphragm and is opened when the water is below such level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 665,887 Emery Jan. 15, 1901 1,396,400 Bresson Nov. 8, 1921 1,930,033 Apple Oct. 10, 1933 1,934,336 Stickdorn Nov. 7, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,205 Great Britain Sept. 17, 1903 

